Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) is often presented as the magic bullet that finally gets students speaking — the antidote to grammar‑heavy lessons and silent classrooms. But in real UK MFL settings, with mixed‑ability groups, limited curriculum time, and exam pressures, does CLT actually deliver? This post cuts through the myths and looks at what CLT really offers, where it struggles, and how to make it work without dogma. 1. How the method was born CLT emerged in the 1